Regional Pest Management Plan

Environment Southland needs a new pest plan to comply with the
Government’s National Policy Direction for Pest Management and to ensure
we are making the best use of available resources.

The plan will set the scene for pest management in Southland for the
next 10 years and address pests on land, in freshwater and in the marine
environment within Southland.

If left unchecked, pest populations can increase to the point where
they cause major damage to our special environment. Pests can impact
severely on biodiversity and be a factor in the decline of native
species. Some pests can trigger soil degradation or reduce water
quality. Pest infestations can also cause economic damage to the
agricultural, recreational and tourism industries.

Feedback on our discussion document Getting the best from pest
management has now closed. We will be considering all this feedback as we
prepare a draft plan which will go out for public submission later this
year.